My Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren will wonder what it was like in America during the late 1960's with Civil rights surfacing,Two assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy, Escalating military involvement in Vietnam War,President Richard M. Nixon administration. Anti war protest marches, Detroit, Newark in flames due to a police raid on an after hours bar as racial differences collide with the police. Hair styles became longer, skirts shorter. The birth of the psychedelic age. Drug use was mainstream among the teens as Marijuana and L.S.D. were popular choices. Turbulent times in America. To make sense of it all was comic relief in rapid fire sketch form . An experiment took place on NBC as producers George Schlatter and Ed Friendly created a one hour potpourri of skits, psychedelic joke wall and the "Fickle Finger of Fate " awarded to a disingenuous person or group. As for the supporting cast you knew who they where. Perky and wide eyed Judy Carne who's catch phrase was Sock It To Me" as Judy would get doused with water or dropped through a trapped door.The Bulky and loud Joanne Worley who would laugh her lines with her thumbs digging. The blonde, meek and soft spoken Henry Gibson reciting a poem by of course Henry Gibson. Larry Hovis would portray a cowboy or Hitler. The overgrown man child plus overly medicated Alan Sues doubles as a hungover kiddie show host and sportscaster doing sports with his bell. Dave Madden would drink milk and throw confetti at the cocktail party. Giggly, bikini clad, notably silly Goldie Hawn who would naturally flub every line with amazing results was a great sounding board for Dan Rowan. The lovely woman of color who divided their tours on the series Teresa Graves and Chelsea Brown added some ethnicity to skits bridging the racial difference. Richard Dawson would join the series playing an English incoherent butler. Barbara Sharma would also replace others on the show with her tap dancing cupid doll voice and fondness for Spiro Agnew. The multi talented Lily Tomlin as the nasal pitched fussy operator Earnestine and precocious, "And that's the twuth!" Edith Ann on the giant rocking chair. The only two cast members along with Owens, Rowan and Martin who were on the entire run of Laugh-In are Ruth Buzzi and Arte Johnson. The multi faceted Buzzi played many roles. Playing a lush with Dick Martin or a gossip columnist but she is most remembered for the homely, dour Gladys Ormphby. Gladys would be harassed by an elderly Tyrone F. Hornneigh (Johnson) sporting a derby, mustache,long black coat walking cane, glasses and Raspy voice. Tyrone was mostly eager for romance as the slow moving suitor who crowds the bench to be close to Gladys.Gladys would swing her purse at Tyrone after a passing an inappropriate remark. Memorable moment: To join in on the festivities Don Rickles "Mr. Warmth" in drag, plays Gladys's sister as the two old prunes swing their purses at the defenseless Tyrone. Other memorable moments on the show when John Wayne appeared reading a poem with flower in hand and a huge wet kiss from Gladys who seems to want kisses from all the male guest that appeared from Johnny Carson and James Garner. Other moments, the cameo by President Nixon who says in a stunned look ,"Sock It To ME?" Who could forget Sammy Davis Junior singing "Here Come The Judge, Here Come The Judge." The ultra conservative WIlliam F. Buckley finally appeared on the Laugh-In Sound Stage after numerous attempts. All types of celebrities would pop up during the action packed hour . Zsa Zsa Gabor, Henny Youngman, Peter Lawford and Flip Wilson. Who could forget the hook nosed, long locked, ukulele playing,while throwing kisses Tiny Tim. My personal; favorite skit is the Farkle Family. No explanation necessary. Dan Rowan lines as Mr. Farkle introducing his family rivals Danny Kaye's Vessel in the pestle routine. Laugh-In basically made awareness to the young generations across America with their political satire used in the news reports, Cocktail party scenes and Mod Mod World sketches. After about the fourth season the repetitive nature of the show ran dry as new players joined the old and another season unfolded as the same catch lines and jokes got tiresome. In an era with anti war protests and civil rights issues, Laugh-In was informative with a huge dose of humor to ease the tensions plaguing our country. The show lasted Six seasons but you can bet your sweet bippy the show made its mark on America in a turbulent era. The timing was right, presenting our culture in a comical colorful way.
Review of Laugh-In
